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H8035 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL (Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.)

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL (Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.)

Housing Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Santucci, Chippendale, Nardone, Newberry, Costantino, Place, Roberts, Hopkins
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL (Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.)

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL (Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL (Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-04-03 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/07/2026)

  3. 2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL (Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H8035

2026 -- H 8035
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LC005468
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL

Introduced By:
Representatives Santucci, Chippendale, Nardone, Newberry, Costantino,
Place, Roberts, and Hopkins

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 45 of the General Laws entitled "TOWNS AND CITIES" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 71
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PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL
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45-71-1. Property tax increase prohibited.
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(a) Any city or town that adopts an ordinance limiting the right of a property owner,
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property manager, or landlord to increase rent prices on a rental unit shall be prohibited from
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increasing property tax rates or reassessing property values on affected rental units for as long as
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the ordinance limiting rental increases remains in effect.
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(b) The prohibition against increasing property tax rates or reassessing property values
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established in this section shall remain in effect only in taxable years in which a city or town
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maintains an adopted ordinance limiting the right of a property owner, property manager, or
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landlord to increase rent prices on a rental unit.
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(c) For the purpose of this section “rental unit” means any part of a housing accommodation
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rented or offered for rent for residential occupancy, including apartments, rooms, condominiums,
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single-family homes, or manufactured homes.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL
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This act would prohibit cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising
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property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005468
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LC005468 - Page 3 of 3